Proverb / Kotowaza
商いは牛の涎
Success in business is achieved by being persistent and steady rather than rushing for quick profits.
Business is a cow's drool.
Quick Answer
Success in business is achieved by being persistent and steady rather than rushing for quick profits.
- Literal Image
- Business is a cow's drool.
- Closest Equivalent
- Slow and steady wins the race
- How to Use It
- Used to describe a business that continues steadily for a long time or to advise someone to focus on long-term stability.
Meaning
This proverb suggests that business should be handled like a cow's drool—thin and long, but never-ending. It emphasizes that longevity and patience are the secrets to success, advising against chasing immediate large gains through risky or hasty actions.
Literal Image
Business is a cow's drool.
Equivalent Proverbs
Slow and steady wins the race
Shares the lesson of steady progress but uses a different image of a race.
How to Use It
Used to describe a business that continues steadily for a long time or to advise someone to focus on long-term stability.
Tone
Instructive and advisory, can be used in a professional or commercial context.
Examples
祖父が経営する店は派手さこそないが、商いは牛の涎の精神で半世紀以上営業を続けている。
My grandfather's shop is not flashy, but it has stayed in business for over half a century in the spirit of 'business is like a cow's drool'.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses specific vocabulary like 'akinai' (business) and 'yodare' (drool), and requires understanding a metaphorical image.
商い
あきない / akinai
business; trade
牛
うし / ushi
cow; ox
涎
よだれ / yodare
drool; saliva
Usage Profile
Usage note: Ensure the listener understands the metaphor of 'long and thin' as a positive trait for longevity.
Misread Risk
The proverb is not a literal comment on hygiene; it is a metaphor for continuity and patience.
Search As
Related Proverbs
Origin
The proverb comes from the way a cow's saliva hangs in a long, thin, and continuous stream without breaking. It serves as a lesson that the secret to business success lies in steady persistence over a long period rather than rushing for quick, temporary riches.
Index
Topics, Situations, and Tags
Topics
Situations
Tags
Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.